Hi All :-) Nice site
Anyways, I run a small 30l tank for shrimp and a few things I fond they love
Sand, perhaps its easier to see them, but they seem to prefer it over gravel
Plants: Anubis variations and LOT AND LOTS of Moss....I have a Moss Wall (hard to keep going though) With Xmas Moss growing off various bits of Bog wood, and Moss Balls.....if you can' get everything just right, they will rise and fall in the water and the Shrimp LOVE riding them
Tank Mates: Ottos are perfect and not aggressive or too big and they always seem to love hitching a ride on Young Apple Snails, I try to keep Mahogany Trumpet snails too, as they did through the sand and help prevent problem with just using sand in the bottom